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Casualty actor Nigel Harman joins our Strictly line-up for 2023

Nigel is a TV, film, and theatre actor and director. Nigel’s acting career started when he was eight – working on multiple TV series, theatre shows, and the odd movie. Most recently joining BBC’s Casualty as Max Cristie, Holby ED's new Clinical Lead. Nigel was also in EastEnders playing Dennis Rickman and appeared in Downton Abbey. 

Among many stage credits Nigel has performed in Guys and Dolls in London’s West End and Shrek the Musical, which he then went on to direct for the UK tour. His film work includes roles in Blood Diamond, Telstar, and The Outsiders for ITV.

His role as Dennis Rickman won him multiple awards, including Most Popular Newcomer at the National Television Awards. He also has an Olivier Award for his role in Shrek. When he’s not on our screens, Nigel enjoys teaching meditation – practicing and sharing mindfulness guidance.

Nigel said: "I'm amazed, excited, and terrified to be doing Strictly. As an armchair fan of the show I have watched in awe as people have twirled and gyrated across the screen. And now it's my turn.....gulp!"

Nigel joins Amanda Abbington, Angela Rippon, Layton Williams, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Eddie Kadi, Angela Scanlon, Zara McDermott, Adam Thomas, Nikita Kanda, Ellie Leach, Jody Cundy and Bobby Brazier in our line-up. Follow @bbcstrictly for all the latest announcements.

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156 comments

  • Comment posted by D1691694136520, at 12:37 10 Aug 2023

    Hooray! At last Strictly 2023 is saved!!!
    If this wonderful man had not turned up, I would be watching another channel instead this Autumn.

    This deliciously looking gentleman will be the one and ONLY reason i'm watching this year, as the show IMO has gone drastically downhill the last 3 years and needs to up its game.

    If he leaves, goodness forbid, then I will switch off too for he and he only is going to make the show so much better. The rest of the contestants are..... meh......

    Hes got my online and multiple phone votes, and I'm surewill be an absolute hit!

    • Reply posted by strictly speaking, at 13:16 10 Aug 2023

      strictly speaking replied:
      Can't agree with anything you've said
      I have loved strictly the past few years
      And the other contestants seem fine for me
      I love strictly and don't think it's the names that make it, the format and sparkle is in built and someone however obscure will be a good dancer
      But you have many agreeing with you, almost instantly the most liked comment by far. Nothing to read into that

  • Comment posted by Nicky91, at 13:39 10 Aug 2023

    i know him more from Downton Abbey as Mr Green, he's a great actor and same with Nikita, musical theatre background isn't a huge advantage as it ain't latin or ballroom dancing

    very good casting, great addition to the diversity of this years line up, well done producers

    • Reply posted by OddOder, at 13:56 10 Aug 2023

      OddOder replied:
      I couldn't remember where I'd seen him before, so thanks for the reminder, Nicky! A good actor, probably can dance a bit, might be interesting to watch.

  • Comment posted by redjimf, at 09:43 10 Aug 2023

    A good addition to the line up, good actor with stage presence , hope he can dance well. Good luck to him.

  • Comment posted by Smee, at 12:40 10 Aug 2023

    Somewhere from the dark recesses of my memory I seem to recall that Len, when asked who he’d like to see on SCD, said Nigel Hartman. That was back when Nigel had just left Eastenders and was about to hit the stage.
    I’m looking forward to September…maybe the weather will have improved by then too

    • Reply posted by Smee, at 12:43 10 Aug 2023

      Smee replied:
      Harman not Hartman…bloomin autocorrect

  • Comment posted by Beepy, at 12:44 10 Aug 2023

    So , gorgeous Nigel . Interesting to see how he gets on . Musical dance will not help him in this it’s quite different. Looking forward to September when it all kicks off .

  • Comment posted by Bettyboop, at 17:24 10 Aug 2023

    The celebrity line up has always comprised of soap actors and TV presenters, back in series 5 we had Brian Capron, Dominic Littlewood, Letitia Dean, Kelly Brook, Matt Di Angelo, Alesha Dixon....hardly household names

    Series 12 Gregg Wallace, Jennifer Gibney, Tim Wonnacott, Scott Mills, Alison Hammond, Judy Murray, Sunetra Sarker, Mark Wright.
    Series 13 Anita Rani, Kellie Bright, Jay McGuiness, Jamelia, Jeremy vine, Kirsty Gallacher, Georgia May Foote.

    I appreciate that the big names like Daniel O Donnel, Lulu and Jason Donovan 😁😁 don't turn up anymore, but truth be told very few of them ever did.

    • Reply posted by nessie69, at 17:27 10 Aug 2023

      nessie69 replied:
      And Lulu was a big disappointment with her partnership with Brendon

  • Comment posted by the original balanced, at 15:57 11 Aug 2023

    I think its really all about the person, not their being famous and well known, in the initial connection we make, and then it is about how well they dance..

    • Reply posted by strictly speaking, at 16:37 11 Aug 2023

      strictly speaking replied:
      Agree totally

  • Comment posted by angiebee22, at 11:22 10 Aug 2023

    Nice, eye candy for the ladies! And of course, he has a wonderful personality.....

    • Reply posted by Suzanne, at 11:47 10 Aug 2023

      Suzanne replied:
      Indeed. Ladies of a certain age can enjoy watching him without feeling they are falling in to cougar tertitory.

  • Comment posted by the original balanced, at 15:43 11 Aug 2023

    I immediately liked this man, although haven't seen him in shows including Casualty yet, will do! ...and good thats he is into meditation!

  • Comment posted by strictly speaking, at 01:32 11 Aug 2023

    Why are all of my comments being removed immediately. I wrote relevant to the blog as it was about cast reveals. The front page of one paper reveals the last celeb. It is on BBC news so they must be fine with us knowing. So why would BBC strictly delete me saying that.
    If that's the whole cast I think they are a good mix and Will do well. A positive comment. I think it will be a great series as always.

    • Reply posted by Careless whisper, at 10:58 11 Aug 2023

      Careless whisper replied:
      The same has happened to me ,instant deletion . It would appear some censoring afoot .
      Anyway that’s that ,Les is the final contestant ,as I said they leave the most well known to last . Hopefully when the show starts this blog can return to a forum for civilised debate . However doubt that will happen . See you back in September .Keep posting .

  • Comment posted by V Thomas, at 16:02 10 Aug 2023

    Finally 2 contestants, other than Angela Rippon I have even heard of.

    • Reply posted by D1691693811147, at 16:09 10 Aug 2023

      D1691693811147 replied:
      I know! Dreadful this year isnt it!
      Been debating that its going downhill year after year now, after being a once loved show.

  • Comment posted by the original balanced, at 16:12 11 Aug 2023

    p.s. Nigel Harman, I was referring to!

  • Comment posted by Mak, at 17:33 11 Aug 2023

    Yay! Loved Nigel since his role as Dennis in Eastenders, very talented. Looking forward to SCD 2023 to brighten up Sat eves 🎉

  • Comment posted by mark, at 18:09 10 Aug 2023

    Stunning and very brave!

  • Comment posted by Russell1970, at 10:32 11 Aug 2023

    Forgotten move on

  • Comment posted by strictly speaking, at 17:24 10 Aug 2023

    Still no weather presenter this year. Don't think Tomasz will do it. Sun nice today though cooler now better in evening. Soon they'll be hitting the training room. Can't wait. Bye for now sun, garden and maybe wine beckons.

  • Comment posted by MavisOne, at 09:27 10 Aug 2023

    Oh yum😜 look forward to see how he scrubs up🤩
    Expect usual cries of 'fix' as he's done musical theatre but it is a very different skill; speak to someone who knows🤷🏼‍♀️ line up sparkling up nicely.
    Morning all🌞👋

    • Reply posted by flamingo, at 09:29 10 Aug 2023

      flamingo replied:
      Just waiting for that one! We recently saw Guys and Dolls on stage and it was really good although I wouldn’t think think you go to see it for the dancing.

  • Comment posted by Bettyboop, at 09:34 10 Aug 2023

    I've seen him in a number of TV programmes and also when he was Lord Farquaad in Shrek the Musical. I think he is a great addition to the line up.

    • Reply posted by strictly speaking, at 11:35 10 Aug 2023

      strictly speaking replied:
      He has a link with a few other finalists then, Kimberly Walsh played princess Fiona. And chelsee did on the show in the jive and pasha was shrek, I liked that one

  • Comment posted by strictly speaking, at 17:03 10 Aug 2023

    I looked back and many people didn't know half of the celebrity over the past years, and said so on the blog here. I don't think it's particularly changed. I don't think it affects the standard of dance you see. I would bet that on average virtually unknown people do a bit better, as they may have more of an impetus to train harder and do well to make a good career move out of strictly
    I can think of more than one I had never known doing very well every year

    • Reply posted by strictly speaking, at 17:40 10 Aug 2023

      strictly speaking replied:
      Even though I accept I didn't know Zara Eddie Bobby etc I'm well aware those I do know Angela Amanda etc won't be known by many kids and that I only knew Jody from watching Paralympics and cycling world championships this week, which isn't everyone's cup of tea but he's a very accomplished sportsman in his field and no sports person that EVERYONE knows if there were such a thing. Maybe 10 of them. All multi millionaire and not interested. Point made.

  • Comment posted by frankie, at 09:53 10 Aug 2023

    If I have counted correctly, that is 4 soap stars in this year's series.

    • Reply posted by Bristow, at 10:41 10 Aug 2023

      Bristow replied:
      and?